Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna for Off-Air HDTV Reception
by Terk
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna for Off-Air HDTV Reception
Customer Review: Solid Antenna
Summary: 5 Stars
I am pointing the antenna out a second story open office window along Pacific Coast Highway pointing southeast toward San Diego and Tijuana Mexico probably 70 miles, basically over water, to the broadcast antennas.
I tried a couple amplified rabbit ears that I already had, which worked OK. The old (and discontinued) Magnavox MANT300 worked pretty well. The Philips MANT510 did not work as well - although its specifications say it has higher gain, and it is a newer product, it simply did not pick up the signal for me like the old MANT310.
The rabbit ears are a bit touchy, and need some adjustment from time to time, or if they get bumped, so I decided to try the Terk. I just set up the Terk HDTVa indoor amplified antenna, Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna for Off-Air HDTV Reception and it works great and seems to be less touchy. It fits nicely in the location I have it in (on a metal file cabinet by the window), and doesn't seem to require any fiddling with, once it is pointed in the right direction.
From what I have tried and what I have read, each person has a unique circumstance, given distance, atmospheric conditions, hills, objects and buildings that bounce signals around. So, no one antenna is the "best." You just have to try a few. In my situation, having to get signals 70 miles away, I believe the amplified antenna is a benefit.
With my glass window open (and just a nylon screen) my signal strength for KPBS digital right now is 92. If I close the window glass, the signal drops to 72. If I shut the blinds, the signal goes down to 62. So, you can see how little things really affect the signal. (If I turn off the amplification, it goes from 92 to 87.) I get 27 watchable channels, although some are analogs which will go away in February 09. Some analogs are from Mexico and will probably not go away.
The Terk is bigger in person than it appears in the photo. It is about 9" high, and the array makes the top about 13.5" wide, and 15.5" deep, but not a problem in my situation.
Customer Review: Completely Satisfied
Summary: 5 Stars
It seems backward to go out and buy an antenna of all things these days. Shouldn't be have something better by now? Well thanks to the introduction of digital broadcasts, we do.
I wasn't sure if this thing would work, but I didn't like paying $50 a month just to watch my broadcast channels in HD over cable (I never watched the other channels).
Thankfully I live in the city, and only 2-3 miles from the towers. Still, I wasn't sure how my cement building would affect my signal.
Here are some things you should know about this product:
1) It is directional. This means you have to point it in the direction of the towers. Orientation DOES matter
2) You either get a digital channel or you don't. There is no snow.
3) The device allows you to turn amplification on or off. This is GREAT because it allows you to adjust the antenna to fit your location. If you live close to a tower or have a strong signal, amplification will distort your signal causing your channel to drop in and out. If you have a weak signal, amplification will allow you to acquire that channel. Very nice feature.
4) Compact design and it won't stand out.
5) Rotating the antenna like your old rabbit ears will not work. If you can't get a signal, move the antenna slightly and then wait to see if your tuner picks up the channel. It may take a second or two. It won't be instant.
6) Just because it works for some of us, doesn't mean it will work for everyone. Antennas are really dependent on your location and the broadcast towers. Be patient and try a variety of positions and settings (antennas up/down, amplification on/off, direction, etc.).
7) Great price on Amazon! This will cost you at least $60 at Best Buy.
Things I can't comment on:
1) Product quality. It looks great. Works great so far. But I just got it today. There is a 1 year warranty on the product.
2) Performance during adverse weather. Its a bright and sunny day in Seattle today. We'll see what happens when the rain, clouds, and snow come.
Customer Review: An OUTSTANDING Improvement
Summary: 5 Stars
I'll start by saying that I would have been impressed by a moderate improvement in my digital reception. There are so many stations in the Washington D.C. area that broadcast in HD, and yet I have had so much difficulty in picking them up "over the air" by using an indoor antenna. I was expecting my next attempt to be an outdoor job, but decided to try just once more with an indoor antenna. It was a risky move considering some of the mixed results people had reported, but since the majority of the comments were positive I figured it was worth a shot. I received this antenna today, hooked it up in a few minutes, and sent my equipment on an "automatic" search. With my previous antenna (a $100 Phillips purchased only 1 year ago from Circuit City) I was able to get a decent selection of traditional analog signals, but only 2 reliable digital stations. Now I receive better analog (which is no longer necessary) and a quite remarkable 21 (Yes, TWENTYONE) digital stations.
As most of you already know, if you receive digital signal you either get great reception, or unwatchable reception. When I say 21 channels, I mean 21 crystal clear channels. I am picking up all the locals, plus Annapolis, and even 4 from Baltimore. I haven't even started playing around with trying alternative sites around the house, or changing the antenna mounting position (the antenna can be inserted either horizontally or vertically into the base, which the instructions say can change reception patterns and success) yet, so I'm not sure how much better it can get, if at all. That being said, naturally I would like to see even more channel reception once I make that effort, but if I see no improvement I will still be thrilled with the improvement I've already seen.
In summary, this is an amazing improvement, and while I have no idea how it would work in other broadcast areas, I have NO regrets about my purchase for use here in the nation's capitol. Highly recommended...
Customer Review: more notes from an oldtechno.
Summary: 5 Stars
I just got this 'terk' antenna yesterday...enough time for me to put it through a few test.
1. Pointed in the opposite direction (with a new tv tuner card already installed Pinnacle), AND THE PRE-AMP OFF, it received...
A. Six analogue tv stations
B. Four High Definition stations
C. Four Digital stations
D. 30 Radio stations (open air-not internet).
Scanning for 'best qualitly' I got four stations I could watch--one was perfect.
Pointed in the correct direction, AND THE PRE-AMP OFF, it received...
A. Eleven analogue tv stations
B. Five High Definition stations
C. Six Digital stations
D. 32 Radio stations (not internet stations).
Having scanned for best quality I could watch eight stations--two seemed to be perfect.
With the pre-amp on it received...
A. Eleven analogue stations
B. Five High definition stations
C. Six digital stations
D. 34 radio stations (not internet stations)
Having scanned for 'best quality' I could watch approximately 9 stations,
about five seemed perfect, the others could be watch barely.
Notice the different with the Pre Amp on and off? Had I a little bit faster computer I could have doubled the number of 'perfect' stations to ten.
So let's take the 'possible' ten perfect stations this antenna could receive and put it against my old rabbit ears with a Uhf loop.
I could receive one station that was watchable--at night, and three that came and went everytime a raindrop fell between the antenna and the station tower.
Case closed.
(P.S.) One of these days I'll hook up my Kil A Watt meter to the pre amp and find out how much it is costing me per month to leave it on--but not today.
BYE!
Customer Review: Works Very Well
Summary: 5 Stars
I live in the urban part of Southern California, not too far from Mt. Wilson where all the broadcast transmitters are located. This antenna was purchased to use with an HDTV converter box since we don't have cable service.
With the old antenna, we were able to get satisfactory reception of all the local stations except the signal was not real strong and for different stations we had to keep getting up to adjust the antenna. I got tired of this so after reading the reviews for the Terk and seeing that it was a Gold Box special, I ordered it.
Quality-wise it is fine except that the base is a little narrow so you have to be careful not to accidentally tip it over. It seems reasonably sturdy, everything you need is included, and the items are securely packed in the box. The instructions are clear enough, too. The only hitch is it is a little hard to fully insert the UHF part of the antenna into the base but then the instructions tell you that you need to give it a good push and also tell you how to check to make sure it is fully inserted.
Reception: I went to the website indicated in the instructions to determine how to orient the antenna. After doing this, reception is very good - the signal strength is stronger and I don't have to move the antenna at all. However, one channel (PBS) doesn't come in unless I turn the antenna in a completely different direction. Since I am uncultured I hardly watch that channel anyway, but every other channel comes in great. I also don't need to extend the rabbit ears at all, so it makes for a very neat-looking item on top of the tv (it's a CRT model so there's room to place it on top).
The product does what it says it will do so I'm happy. I'm also happy that I don't have to keep walking back and forth to adjust the antenna like I had to before with the old one.